I know this was uploaded some time ago, but in case anyone is scrolling for more info: Don’t forget the mulch! The biggest problem with windy gardens isn’t necessarily what you think it is. Wind dries plants out at a much faster rate. Add full sun, and you’re nearly growing in a desert. Moisture retention is crucial in a windy garden. I live in a Zone 4, mountain area in Wyoming, USA. There are areas here that are so windy people have to tent stake their roofs down! The wind shoots off the mountains, picks up speed, and hits like a hurricane force at times. Xeriscaping, and/or being water minded is essential here. Without mulching, even if you use drip lines, the wind can dry your garden soil before ever reaching deep enough to encourage deep root growth. So, my advice is, use as many native plants as possible. Mulch, mulch, mulch, and treat really windy days like high summer...water twice a day (morning/evening), and you’ll be happier for it. Happy windy gardening!
Never thought I'd be listening to such a delightful English accent when I wanted help with my super windy terrace garden. And the tips are marvellous to boot. Thank you for the video. :)
Thank you - and it's made it all so much easier. I used to have to stand in front of the back door before, which was quite difficult when it was raining. Not that we have any rain at the moment.
Great tips. We bought a section in a small coastal town right along a valley where the wind would blow quite a bit along the entire side of the steep banks. We bought it on a nice day and where only stunned by the views without realizing what this would bring with it. So we do not want to stifle the views but need some ideas how to deal with the situation. So thanks for that. It gave me some ideas how to deal with it and broken walls are stunning.
That's really interesting - we are having to think about that more and more, and I hope I have a promise of a 'dry garden interview' from a very good head gardener booked for next year.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden That would be great but your channel always offers something of interest that can be included even in this quite difficult climate. (-12 in winter + 40 in the summer)
Wonderful! Thank you sooooo much for all your efforts putting this together, Alexandra! There are so many great ideas here. I just returned from a short vacation to find your video! I am absolutely delighted! I had wondered about using more short or low plants as they do seem to do better in the wind, but I had not thought about using plants that are made to be shown off in a windy setting, such as bamboo and grasses. The suggestion of dotting plants here and there to break up the wind will take some thought. I might walk around my garden with some plants in pots and place them here and there to see where they do actually break up the wind. What do you think of this strategy? I also really love the open screen suggestion for a seating area shelter. I will have to watch this video a few times and note down all the ideas for consideration. Our city seems to have become a very windy city in recent years! Thanks once again! You are wonderful!
That sounds like a good idea, although the trees and shrubs will probably filter the wind better once they've been in a few years, as you'll probably have to plant quite small versions so that they can get established. I think that 'belt and braces' is probably the best way through - my friends Sue and Fay, whose Suffolk garden featured in the video, have a hedge, then trees and shrubs dotted around near and near-ish the perimeter, then a broken screen, and so on, so anything that finally gets through to the main area where they have flowers has been reduced and reduced. Thank you for your comments, too, it's great to have ideas from people and I've found this very interesting to do.
I see what you mean. I will have to consider how to implement the belt and braces approach. With a large lawn in the centre of the yard, it is going to be tricky as the wind will race down the lawn. I might have to reconsider having an unbroken lawn.
Thanks for your advice though should have known before ....my corn plants are quite vulnerable...at the moment I 've put garden parasol in front of this gale just to protect from the gales here in uk
We are often beset by Gales here on the Gippsland Lakes which is compounded by my steep slope. I have planted 9 Rugosas (3 each of Scabrosa, Alba, Roserai de La Hay). Dahlias were totally flattened. Very much hit and miss planting. The other day the wind came in at a totally different angle! Trial and error. I am awaiting delivery of six tubestock Tree Lucernes to help with windbreak and hopefully improving the soil (and feed the bees awakening in Spring). I think in another 12 months I will have a better idea of what has worked and what has not. The last plant standing!
I hope it turns out well. Might it be worth trying the very shortest dahlias once the windbreaks are more established? As you say, trial and error. I can't work out what to do about my tree because it won't establish roots while it's being pushed around like this, and I don't think Liquidambars really suit being cut in half. I shall seek out the appropriate expert
I suspect you are absolutely right. I have a feeling cutting it will spoil the shape. I'm thinking of giving it away locally to anyone who can come to take it away and if that doesn't work....firewood....such a shame.
Interesting, FlowerFairy. I also hate the wind direction changing constantly. It's like that here in Melbourne these days. If that's what you are dealing with, I can understand that your dahlias were flattened. Last spring all my Dutch irises leaned right over and this autumn when bulb foliage began appearing I went around staking each clump and tying the foliage to the stakes. There are still far too many stakes in the garden and the sight isn't pretty. When early spring flowers appeared recently (some daffodils etc) I tied them to the stakes also but they look a little silly (like they are on display rather than part of a garden) and it was far too much effort to repeat. Please keep us posted on which plants and trees that you planted cope well with the wind.
Alexandra, have you considered placing two or three really sturdy stakes around the perimeter of the Liquidamber and tying a wide tree tie (around two inches width) around each stake with the other end around the trunk, stapled? (No staples on the trunk of course, just staples on the tie where it loops around). We had a three metre tall cypress planted two years ago that way with instructions to water heavily daily for some time in order to get the roots moving. The tree did rock around but not too much as the stakes and ties limited the movement and this method apparently helps a tree strengthen against future wind. Let us know what the expert recommends.
We had a huge mature liquidamber in our front yard in the seventies and after around ten years of autumns spent raking up the (beautiful) leaves, I just could not face the gruelling annual task any more, and our lawn was getting wrecked by leaf coverage and tree roots. I still remember the roots sitting up above the lawn.
We live in Cape Town, and I think my balcony is probably the windiest in the world! The only thing that does not get destroyed is a rather ugly yucca. Thanks for the idea to plant grasses - I never thought of trying that. I think I will try some Cape Thatch reed... and perhaps a sanseveria.
I have an idea for a video. I ran into two issues. One is what happens if your plant breaks in a wind or your dog steps on it like in my garden...how do you know which plants can be rooted so that you can save the plant instead of throwing it away. I had a plant do that and it was quite a large plant and when I went to plant it, I realized the stem was 18 inches long which was way too long and that’s why it had fallen over in the wind so I wanted to know if, like with succulents, you could just cut it off and root the cut end. Another video could be transplanting - how to do it successfully so if you plant something and it doesn’t thrive and you want to move it to a better place what are the rules on that. Thanks.
I'm wondering if wind is blowing weed seeds between yards. My little yard where the HOA mandated very short cattle panel fences has many, many more weeds than my old huge properly fenced yard did.
Great idea! I'll definitely look for experts and areas to do 'wet areas', although we live in a dry part of England, and we are in the middle of a drought so it may take a little time.
Too much wind will blow fruit off the trees, but some breeze is quite helpful in drying out fruit trees after rain. I don't think they'd be great on a very windy site, but a bit of breeze probably won't hurt.
“What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. - Leisure” ― W. H. Davies, Common Joys and Other Poems
I know this was uploaded some time ago, but in case anyone is scrolling for more info:
Don’t forget the mulch!
The biggest problem with windy gardens isn’t necessarily what you think it is. Wind dries plants out at a much faster rate. Add full sun, and you’re nearly growing in a desert. Moisture retention is crucial in a windy garden.
I live in a Zone 4, mountain area in Wyoming, USA. There are areas here that are so windy people have to tent stake their roofs down! The wind shoots off the mountains, picks up speed, and hits like a hurricane force at times. Xeriscaping, and/or being water minded is essential here. Without mulching, even if you use drip lines, the wind can dry your garden soil before ever reaching deep enough to encourage deep root growth. So, my advice is, use as many native plants as possible. Mulch, mulch, mulch, and treat really windy days like high summer...water twice a day (morning/evening), and you’ll be happier for it. Happy windy gardening!
Yes, that is excellent advice, thank you for adding it.
No need to worry about watering in our windy Irish garden, rain rain go away 😕
Thanks for posting this!
Thank you two so much for advices!
do you have ideas for addressing the wind blowing mulch away? anything stable that stays in place?
Thank you for this video. We do get some very windy moments in our garden. So some excellent tips!
Glad it was helpful!
Never thought I'd be listening to such a delightful English accent when I wanted help with my super windy terrace garden. And the tips are marvellous to boot. Thank you for the video. :)
Glad I could help!
Thank you too, for the very good ideas you have sourced for us. This is a subject we don't always consider when we are choosing a spot for planting.
Your new backdrop looks great Alexandra!!!
Thank you - and it's made it all so much easier. I used to have to stand in front of the back door before, which was quite difficult when it was raining. Not that we have any rain at the moment.
Great tips. We bought a section in a small coastal town right along a valley where the wind would blow quite a bit along the entire side of the steep banks. We bought it on a nice day and where only stunned by the views without realizing what this would bring with it. So we do not want to stifle the views but need some ideas how to deal with the situation. So thanks for that. It gave me some ideas how to deal with it and broken walls are stunning.
Thank you very much. My rooftop garden is very windy since after high building was built. And in korea very strong typhoon coming every year.
Hope the video helps!
Thank you so much, this was super helpful❤️
THANK YOU! You have given me a few ideas to explore!
Thank you!
Love your RUclips channel and follow you from central Italy every week. Anything on dry gardening would be very much appreciated
That's really interesting - we are having to think about that more and more, and I hope I have a promise of a 'dry garden interview' from a very good head gardener booked for next year.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden That would be great but your channel always offers something of interest that can be included even in this quite difficult climate. (-12 in winter + 40 in the summer)
@@susanbrookes8247 That's quite a climate! Thank you.
Excellent information - thank you 😊
Thank you!
Thank you for all the great ideas❤️😊❤️
A pleasure! Thank you for commenting.
Wonderful! Thank you sooooo much for all your efforts putting this together, Alexandra! There are so many great ideas here. I just returned from a short vacation to find your video! I am absolutely delighted! I had wondered about using more short or low plants as they do seem to do better in the wind, but I had not thought about using plants that are made to be shown off in a windy setting, such as bamboo and grasses.
The suggestion of dotting plants here and there to break up the wind will take some thought. I might walk around my garden with some plants in pots and place them here and there to see where they do actually break up the wind. What do you think of this strategy? I also really love the open screen suggestion for a seating area shelter. I will have to watch this video a few times and note down all the ideas for consideration. Our city seems to have become a very windy city in recent years! Thanks once again! You are wonderful!
That sounds like a good idea, although the trees and shrubs will probably filter the wind better once they've been in a few years, as you'll probably have to plant quite small versions so that they can get established. I think that 'belt and braces' is probably the best way through - my friends Sue and Fay, whose Suffolk garden featured in the video, have a hedge, then trees and shrubs dotted around near and near-ish the perimeter, then a broken screen, and so on, so anything that finally gets through to the main area where they have flowers has been reduced and reduced. Thank you for your comments, too, it's great to have ideas from people and I've found this very interesting to do.
I see what you mean. I will have to consider how to implement the belt and braces approach. With a large lawn in the centre of the yard, it is going to be tricky as the wind will race down the lawn. I might have to reconsider having an unbroken lawn.
I never knew that about walls. I love your crocosmias BTW 😍👍
Thank you, yes, I love the crocosmias too. They are all self-seeded and this year they have taken over the garden.
Could you recommend plants for a large patio? Which variety of trees would do well, etc.
Thanks for your advice though should have known before ....my corn plants are quite vulnerable...at the moment I 've put garden parasol in front of this gale just to protect from the gales here in uk
These gales have been quite something.
Please tell me any advice for growing on my windy top of high-rise building balcony.
We are often beset by Gales here on the Gippsland Lakes which is compounded by my steep slope. I have planted 9 Rugosas (3 each of Scabrosa, Alba, Roserai de La Hay). Dahlias were totally flattened. Very much hit and miss planting. The other day the wind came in at a totally different angle! Trial and error. I am awaiting delivery of six tubestock Tree Lucernes to help with windbreak and hopefully improving the soil (and feed the bees awakening in Spring). I think in another 12 months I will have a better idea of what has worked and what has not. The last plant standing!
I hope it turns out well. Might it be worth trying the very shortest dahlias once the windbreaks are more established? As you say, trial and error. I can't work out what to do about my tree because it won't establish roots while it's being pushed around like this, and I don't think Liquidambars really suit being cut in half. I shall seek out the appropriate expert
I suspect you are absolutely right. I have a feeling cutting it will spoil the shape. I'm thinking of giving it away locally to anyone who can come to take it away and if that doesn't work....firewood....such a shame.
Interesting, FlowerFairy. I also hate the wind direction changing constantly. It's like that here in Melbourne these days. If that's what you are dealing with, I can understand that your dahlias were flattened. Last spring all my Dutch irises leaned right over and this autumn when bulb foliage began appearing I went around staking each clump and tying the foliage to the stakes. There are still far too many stakes in the garden and the sight isn't pretty. When early spring flowers appeared recently (some daffodils etc) I tied them to the stakes also but they look a little silly (like they are on display rather than part of a garden) and it was far too much effort to repeat. Please keep us posted on which plants and trees that you planted cope well with the wind.
Alexandra, have you considered placing two or three really sturdy stakes around the perimeter of the Liquidamber and tying a wide tree tie (around two inches width) around each stake with the other end around the trunk, stapled? (No staples on the trunk of course, just staples on the tie where it loops around). We had a three metre tall cypress planted two years ago that way with instructions to water heavily daily for some time in order to get the roots moving. The tree did rock around but not too much as the stakes and ties limited the movement and this method apparently helps a tree strengthen against future wind. Let us know what the expert recommends.
We had a huge mature liquidamber in our front yard in the seventies and after around ten years of autumns spent raking up the (beautiful) leaves, I just could not face the gruelling annual task any more, and our lawn was getting wrecked by leaf coverage and tree roots. I still remember the roots sitting up above the lawn.
We live in Cape Town, and I think my balcony is probably the windiest in the world! The only thing that does not get destroyed is a rather ugly yucca. Thanks for the idea to plant grasses - I never thought of trying that. I think I will try some Cape Thatch reed... and perhaps a sanseveria.
That sounds good. We had a yucca for a while and it did withstand everything.
Nice job. Like no 39 and subscribed u.
I have an idea for a video. I ran into two issues. One is what happens if your plant breaks in a wind or your dog steps on it like in my garden...how do you know which plants can be rooted so that you can save the plant instead of throwing it away. I had a plant do that and it was quite a large plant and when I went to plant it, I realized the stem was 18 inches long which was way too long and that’s why it had fallen over in the wind so I wanted to know if, like with succulents, you could just cut it off and root the cut end. Another video could be transplanting - how to do it successfully so if you plant something and it doesn’t thrive and you want to move it to a better place what are the rules on that. Thanks.
I'm wondering if wind is blowing weed seeds between yards. My little yard where the HOA mandated very short cattle panel fences has many, many more weeds than my old huge properly fenced yard did.
The wind does blow weed seeds between yards, although it can blow them over even quite high and solid fences.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Here in Christchurch New Zealand we are been hit with high wins my dahlias have been blow to pieces I have steak them. Do you have any ideas
I think just cut the affected stems back and more will re-grow.
Beautiful, I'd like to know about plants for wet areas please thank you 😊
Great idea! I'll definitely look for experts and areas to do 'wet areas', although we live in a dry part of England, and we are in the middle of a drought so it may take a little time.
The Middle-Sized Garden I'm in Scotland sooo it's a bit wet here although it's been dryer here 2 thanks 😊
What about fruit trees ? :)))
Too much wind will blow fruit off the trees, but some breeze is quite helpful in drying out fruit trees after rain. I don't think they'd be great on a very windy site, but a bit of breeze probably won't hurt.
🌻🌈🌻
dn ji
“What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
- Leisure”
― W. H. Davies, Common Joys and Other Poems
It's a lovely poem.